WNBA commissioner says league will continue discussing issue of transgender participation

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert conveyed to the press at a recent news conference that the league intends to persist in deliberating the matter of transgender athletes competing in women's basketball. In a memo addressed to teams, distributed on Friday, Engelbert emphasized the likelihood of the topic maintaining substantial interest in the coming weeks.

She expressed gratitude for the media's careful and professional handling of the subject. The memo disclosed that a task force comprising team presidents and general managers would delve deeper into the matter during an upcoming meeting. Indiana Fever forward Sophie Cunningham recently expressed her stance in favor of excluding transgender girls and women from girls' and women's sports, leading to protests in Seattle and Portland following the team's away games.

A solitary protester attended the Fever's home match against Las Vegas on Thursday. Two conservative organizations have announced plans to stage a rally supporting Cunningham prior to the team's upcoming game against Chicago. The WNBA has refrained from issuing any public statements on the issue thus far. Engelbert reiterated the league's commitment to addressing the topic with the utmost thoughtfulness and respect, while also adhering to the collective bargaining agreement that restricts eligibility to female players.

She further highlighted the importance of maintaining the game's integrity and ensuring equitable competition. Recently, former NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White announced their intent to participate in the WNBA draft, citing their identification as women.